When and where did you graduate?
UWA 1995.
When did you enter into private practice?
Year 2000
Please describe your practice in a few words.
Solo practice with 3 surgeries. P/T OHT. Predominantly referral base practice focused on minor oral surgery and Dental Implantology
What is your greatest challenge in Private Practice dentistry?
Managing the business of dentistry. Trying to maintain a lifestyle and work balance.
What led you to dentistry &/or your specific area of interest?
I have always enjoyed craft work as a child, and I am not an office person. I wanted to pursue a career in health care hence I was aiming for dentistry or medicine.
After running my first practice for 2 to 3 years, I realised I don’t enjoy the drill and fill style of dentistry. I enjoy oral surgery and I developed a passion for oral surgery. I foresee dental implantology was the future of dentistry so I worked towards specialising in that discipline.
What lesson/s would have been valuable for you to learn before you started in Private Practice?
I completed a comprehensive programme on the business of dentistry at the start of owning my first practice, and that was priceless. Dental school has zero exposure to the business of dentistry, and a dental practice as a small business.
What’s your funniest or most memorable moment in Dentistry?
I have 2 most memorable moments.
1) When I got accepted into the implant post graduate programme in 2011 I knew I was on the right track to be at the forefront of implantology.
2) When I heard the news that my older son also got accepted into dentistry.
What do you think will be different in Australian dentistry in 10-years?
AI and digital dentistry will continue to evolve the future of dentistry. Solo general practice will be far and few in between as the cost and effort in running a single operator practice far outweighs the benefits. Group and corporate practices will dominate the market as they have a much better bargaining power.
What’s your passion outside of Dentistry?
I love diving and swimming. I also love sharing the passion for diving with my older son.